ENERGY FUNDAMENTALS – LESSON PLAN 1.

Simple and Compound Machines

This lesson is designed for 3rd – 5th grade students in a variety of school settings Public School
(public, private, STEM schools, and home schools) in the seven states served by local System Teaching
power companies and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Community groups (Scouts, 4- Standards Covered
H, after school programs, and others) are encouraged to use it as well. This is one
State
lesson from a three-part series designed to give students an age-appropriate, Science Standards
informed view of energy. As their understanding of energy grows, it will enable them to • AL GLE 3.5.1 3rd
make informed decisions as good citizens or civic leaders. • AL GLE 3.5.2 3rd
• AL GLE 3.5.3 3rd
This lesson plan is suitable for all types of educational settings. Each lesson can be • AL GLE 5.6.2 5th
adapted to meet a variety of class sizes, student skill levels, and time requirements. • GA S4P3 4th
• MS GLE 2.c 3rd
• NC 3.P.1 3rd
Setting Lesson Plan Selections Recommended for Use
• NC 5.P.1 5th
Smaller class size, • The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content. • TN GLE 0307.T/E.1 3rd
higher student ability, • While in class, students can do “Guided Practice,” complete the • TN GLE 0507.T/E.1 5th
and /or longer class “Recommended Item(s)” and any additional guided practice items the teacher • VA 3.2 3rd
length might select from “Other Resources.”
• NOTE: Some lesson plans do and some do not contain “Other Resources.”
• At home or on their own in class, students can do “Independent Practice,”
complete the “Recommended Item(s)” and any additional independent practice
items the teacher selects from “Other Resources” (if provided in the plan).

Average class size, • The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content.

student ability, and • While in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)” from “Guided
class length Practice” section.
• At home or on their own in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)”
from “Independent Practice” section.

Larger class size, • The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content.

lower student ability, • At home or on their own in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)”
and/or shorter class from “Independent Practice” section.
length

Electrical Safety Reminder: Teachers should remind students that electricity is dangerous and that
an adult should be present when any recommended activities or worksheets are being completed at
home. Always obey instructions on warning labels and ensure one has dry hands when touching
electronics or appliances.

Performance Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• Identify and explain simple machines and how they work.
• Identify and explain how compound machines work.

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.6 – SIMPLE AND COMPOUND MACHINES Page 1 of 5

I. Anticipatory Set (Attention Grabber)
Essential Question

How can we make our work easier?

II. Modeling (Concepts to Teach)

A simple machine is defined as a machine that makes work easier by allowing a person to push or pull objects
over increased distances. There are few to no moving parts in a simple machine. And remember, work is defined
as applying a force over a distance in the same direction as the force.

There are SIX simple machines:

Additional Information: http://www.mikids.com/Smachines.htm

Type Example

1 Pulley – A pulley is a simple machine that uses grooved

wheels and a rope to raise, lower or move a load.

2 Lever – A lever is a stiff bar that rests on a support called

a fulcrum which lifts or moves loads.

3 Wedge – A wedge is an object with at least one slanting

side ending in a sharp edge, which cuts material apart.

4
Wheel and Axle – A wheel with a rod, called an axle,
through its center lifts or moves loads.

Inclined Plane – An inclined plane is a slanting surface

5 connecting a lower level to a higher level. The inclined
plane is simply a ramp, which uses the force of gravity to
do work.

6 Screw – A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a

pole which holds things together or lifts materials.

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.6 – SIMPLE AND COMPOUND MACHINES Page 2 of 5

A compound machine is two or more simple machines put together to do work. Unlike simple machines,
compound machines have moving parts. For example, a pair of scissors is two levers moving past each other to
do work. Also, the blades of the scissors are wedges (another simple machine). A bicycle is a compound machine
that includes 3 simple machines: wheel and axle, gears, and a lever (the pedals). Compound machines also make
work easier!

III. Checking for Understanding

Teachers can ask students these questions to determine understanding of concepts.

REMEMBER List the simple machines that can make work easier. List the compound machines that
can make work easier. (Teachers can list these on the board with help from students.)

UNDERSTAND How do machines make work easier? (Class discussion)

APPLY Illustrate a simple machine. (Teacher or student demonstrates use of a simple machine
such as a door stop or ramp.)

If you could only have one machine (simple or compound), what would you choose and
ANALYZE
why? (Have multiple students answer or everyone write down what they would choose.)

Rate the importance of simple and compound machines. What would happen if there
EVALUATE
were no machines making our work easier? (Class discussion)

Create a drawing of a simple or compound machine that would make something you
CREATE don’t like to do easier. (Students can draw a machine, such as a pulley in a tree house,
on a piece of paper.)

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.6 – SIMPLE AND COMPOUND MACHINES Page 3 of 5

IV. Guided Practice Ideas
Recommended Items
Simple Machine Experiment (using playground); Catapult Experiment

Experiments
• A Slide is a Simple Machine Experiment (using playground):
http://www.eia.gov/kids/resources/teachers/pdfs/SlidePrimary.pdf
• Catapult Experiment: http://sciencegal-sciencegal.blogspot.com/search/label/enrichment and
investigation
• Simple Machines: Levers Experiment (using playground):
http://www.eia.gov/kids/resources/teachers/pdfs/LeverElementaryActivity.pdf
• An Energy Playground – Using Human Energy: http://www.planetseed.com/laboratory/energy-
playground

Games
• Simple and Compound Machines: http://schooltoolbox.weebly.com/simple--compound-machines.html

Practice that uses math/reading skills:

• Math: Equation for force (force = mass x acceleration). Teachers can review Newton’s Second Law with
students: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO7XeYPi2FU. Students can do example problems:
http://share.nanjing-school.com/sciences/files/2013/02/8Sci_FM_2ndLawWS-1fdv8aq.pdf
• Reading: Students can read and summarize an article about force and motion: https://suite.io/harvey-
craft/624s2a6

V. Independent Practice Ideas

Recommended Items
Compound/Simple Machine Scavenger Hunt (see below)

Other Resources
Personal Practice
• Writing Activity: Teachers write the following question on the board and ask students to copy and answer the
question on a sheet of paper: Explain how simple and compound machines work, in your own words.
• Create a simple machine using household items. Teachers can ask students to brainstorm ideas and
teachers can write them on the board. Students can then create simple machines if materials are available.
(Ex. a match box car rolls down an inclined plane and cracks an egg open.)
• Journal (if the students have a journal). Teachers write the following question on the board and ask students
to copy and answer the question in their journals: Explain how machines make work easier.

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.6 – SIMPLE AND COMPOUND MACHINES Page 4 of 5

Practice That May Involve Parents or Guardians
• At-home Activity: How Does Energy Work? Worksheet and Answer Key provided
• Scavenger Hunt – Simple Machines: Students find 5 simple machines in their homes and list them on a sheet
of paper. (Ex. hammer, jar with a lid that screws on, etc.)
• Scavenger Hunt – Compound Machines: Students find 5 compound machines in their home and list them on
a sheet of paper. (Ex. wheelbarrow, a pair of scissors, etc.)
• Build your own simple/compound machine (ex. a match box car rolls down an inclined plane and cracks an
egg open).

VI. Assessment
These items provide a check for understanding so teachers can easily determine whether concepts need to be
reinforced. These items can be graded, if desired.
• How Do Machines Make Work Easier? Worksheet and Answer Key provided
• Journal (if completed as Personal Practice, as shown above)

VII. Materials Needed

The following materials are needed for the A Slide is a Simple Machine Experiment in “Recommended Items”
in the Guided Practice section.
• 1 playground slide
• 1 long rope (25 feet)
• 1 measuring tape
• 4 heavy books
• 1 sturdy canvas bag with handles

VIII. Closing the Lesson

In addition to the Essential Question shown below, teachers can reference Performance Objectives at the top of
the Lesson Plan.

Essential Question
How can we make our work easier?

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LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.6 – SIMPLE AND COMPOUND MACHINES Page 5 of 5

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WORKSHEET FOR SIMPLE AND COMPOUND MACHINES LESSON 1.6

NAME: _______________________

How Do Machines Make Work Easier?

Objective: Students will be able to identify and explain simple and compound machines and how each type of
machine works.

1. How do machines make work easier?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is one type of simple machine?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Draw an example of a wheel and axle:

WORKSHEET: HOW DOES ENERGY WORK? (FOR LESSON 1.6 SIMPLE AND COMPOUND MACHINES) Page 1 of 2
4. Is a wheel and axle a simple machine or a complex machine? Why?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. How have machines changed with technology?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

WORKSHEET: HOW DO MACHINES MAKE WORK EASIER? (FOR LESSON 1.6 SIMPLE AND COMPOUND MACHINES) Page 2 of 2
Answer Key
ANSWER KEY FOR WORKSHEET: HOW DO MACHINES MAKE WORK EASIER?

1. How do machines make work easier?

Ex. Machines make work easier by applying more force to an object than a person can naturally apply.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is one type of simple machine?

Ex. Pulley, lever, wedge, wheel & axle, inclined plane, or screw
_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Draw an example of a wheel and axle:

Example

Gear

Lever

Wheel and Axle

4. Is a wheel and axle a simple machine or a complex machine? Why?

Ex. Simple machine – there are few moving parts.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. How have machines changed with technology?

Ex. As technology has progressed, it has provided us with more machines that are able to do more work.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

ANSWER KEY FOR HOW DO MACHINES MAKE WORK EASIER? WORKSHEET FOR LESSON 1.6 Page 1 of 1